(Report) Oahu – Maui County Grid Interconnection Study (2012 – 2013[2]): HNEI continues to drive, in partnership with Hawaiian Electric Company, a study that builds upon the work of both the OWIS and HSIS to examine the value proposition of prospective grid interconnection of the power systems on Oahu to those in Maui county (Maui, Lanai and Molokai) via submarine power cables, advanced control systems and operational strategies. This study is of critical importance to the State of Hawaii as high-cost investment decisions regarding the desirability and benefits of grid interconnections via submarine power cable systems progress. Study completion and report publication is targeted for 2013 (February 2014).

May 2013, Batteries for Grid Management (Project Profile).

(Report) Hawaii Solar Integration Study (2010 - 2012)[3]: The Hawaii Solar Integration Study (HSIS) builds upon the knowledge gained in the Oahu Wind Integration Study (OWIS). The study examines very high penetration scenarios of solar and wind energy – up to 760 MW of distributed and utility scale solar PV and 300 MW of wind resources for Oahu, and up to 45 MW of distributed and utility scale solar PV and 72 MW of wind on Maui. Focusing on the operational impact on the Oahu and Maui bulk power systems, the HSIS evaluates reserve strategies, impacts on thermal unit commitment and dispatch, utilization of energy storage, renewable energy curtailment, and other aspects of grid reliability, operations and costs. Key to the study, high-resolution (2-second) solar power profiles were generated using a new combined Numerical Weather Prediction model / stochastic-kinematic cloud model approach, which represents the “sharp-edge” effects of clouds passing over solar facilities (March 2013).

(Report) Oahu Wind Integration Study (2008 - 2010[4])[4]: Utilizing a variety of modeling and grid simulation tools, this study evaluated the technical feasibility and economic viability of operational strategies, improvements to existing infrastructure, and new technologies to enable high penetrations of renewable energy in Hawaii. More specifically, through the implementation of key mitigation measures including wind power forecasting, refined reserve requirements, reduced minimum power of baseload units, seasonal cycling of select baseload units, and modified generator and wind turbine controls, a viable strategy was developed to integrate up to 500 MW of wind and 100 MW of solar energy on the isolated Oahu power grid (December 2010).